So what happens if there is a pedestrian “bridge” placed over a street between two buildings and those buildings have a change of use or are demolished? The New York Times explores this in the little bridge built in 1989 that connected Trinity Church at Broadway and Wall to a 25 storey parish house across the street at 74 Trinity Place. That parish house was demolished last year leaving this-rather significantly-as the bridge to nowhere.

Because the nearest crosswalk was over 200 feet away, it was decided that a bridge was needed to help parishioners cross. The bridge is made of steel but takes its reference from “the design of a cast-iron pedestrian footbridge that was constructed in 1866 outside St. Paul’s Chapel, a few blocks north of Trinity Church but within its parish.” Because the bridge was historically informed it has been treated as a significant item by the Landmarks Commission and will be reintegrated with the rebuilding of a new $300 million, 26-story parish building designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects.

“Scripture tells us that faith is the evidence of things not seen,” the Rev. Dr. William Lupfer, Trinity’s rector, said. “The new Trinity parish hall will soon serve this community, neighborhood, and the City of New York for a fourth century.”